While high profile, media hyped attempts at cracking America by the likes of Oasis and Robbie Williams failed spectacularly, Iron Maiden went about conquering not just The States but just about every country in existence with barely a whisper in the mainstream press.

Travel to any country and there’s every chance you’ll see plenty of people wearing their T-shirts emblazoned with their iconic logo and skull headed mascot, Eddie.

With 5 UK No. 1 albums, a clutch of gold and platinum albums to their name and playing to packed out stadiums worldwide, Iron Maiden are just about the biggest underground band on the planet.

Iron Maiden at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle (Image: Mick Burgess)

Hated by the mainstream, ignored by the industry, loved by the fans, their “us against the world” attitude suits them just fine and after over 40 years and 100 million albums sold Maiden hit the road again in support of their latest chart topping opus Book of Souls, arriving in Newcastle for their first show in the region for six years.

It’s no surprise that the Metro Radio Arena was sold out months ago such is the fervour of their hugely loyal fanbase that could in itself be the subject of an anthropology thesis such is the mix of young and old, hairy rocker and trendy hipster, and people from around the globe, a real melting pot of everything society has to offer and for those lucky enough to grab a ticket they had the time of their lives.

Iron Maiden (Image: Mick Burgess)

Maiden don’t play things safe and that’s why we love them. There’s no predictable opening salvo of sure fire hits to hit the ground running but two cuts from their latest masterpiece, Book of Souls with the monstrous epic If Eternity Should Fail followed by the duck and dive punch of Speed of Light to get the crowd truly fired up.

Vintage cuts follow in the shape of Wrathchild from their last Paul Di’Anno fronted album, Killers and the welcome return of Children of The Damned to the set from Number of The Beast, their first with Bruce Dickinson.

Iron Maiden (Image: Mick Burgess)

The set was well balanced between new songs (The Red and The Black, Death or Glory), old classics (the pyro fuelled The Number of the Beast, Wasted Years) and those treasures that the long standing fans come to shows for with Powerslave satisfying those very people with its huge, hulking Egyptian-esq riff and dramatic delivery.

Bruce Dickinson’s recent health scare seemed but a distant memory as he raced from one side of the huge stage to the other making you wonder where on earth he gets such a supply of energy with his legendary air raid siren vocals more than standing the test of time.

The triple guitar assault of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Hartlepool born, Janick Gers fired riffs and traded solos in a way no one else can while band founder Steve Harris “machine gunned” the crowd with his bass at every opportunity.

Iron Maiden (Image: Mick Burgess)

Even the most cynical of non-Metal heads couldn’t fail to get caught up in the exhilarating energy and pomp of The Trooper or the haunting sound of 10,000 voices singing along to Fear Of The Dark. This was impressive stuff.

Maiden certainly know how to put on an extravagant show. Their grandiose stage was cinematic in scope built around a Mayan theme with ramps and risers all over the stage, columns of flames and enough lights to land a squadron of 747s.

This was one imposing spectacle and of course when the giant band mascot Eddie, engulfed the rear of the stage for Iron Maiden, the song, the place literally erupted.

Iron Maiden (Image: Mick Burgess)

Four decades on it’s incredible that the popularity of Iron Maiden has endured when so many of their competitors have fallen by the wayside but when you look at the hard touring they have done and the consistency of their albums over the years that should really come as no surprise.

An Iron Maiden show is not just a concert, it’s an event and The Book of Souls has continued that tradition to devastating effect. Maybe it’s time that they received the mainstream recognition that they truly deserve.